Although it's still too early to plant popular garden vegetables such as tomatoes, beans and corn, it's just the right time for "Coastal Carolina" gardeners to plant cool season vegetables. Plant them early in the growing season because they stop producing when hot weather comes. Among the first planted in the garden are cabbage, carrots, head lettuce, onions, Irish potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, spinach, turnips, edible pod peas and garden peas (English peas). Soon after they are in the ground, it'll be time to plant broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, leaf lettuce, mustard and Swiss chard.
Planting times vary among the different types of vegetables and in different parts of the state. For instance, if you live in the upper Coastal Plain or lower Piedmont regions, you should plant carrot seeds between Feb. 15 and March 1. In western North Carolina, delay planting for 10 to 20 days. And in eastern North Carolina, plant 7 to 12 days earlier.
Those interested in planting cool season crops may request a copy of the Home Vegetable Gardening Manual.
